Strip-lifting apparatus with improved lifting bars

ABSTRACT

In an apparatus for lifting sheet steel strip into and out of a pickling tank, improved lifting bars formed in an L-shape and having an acid-resistant polypropylene covering surrounding a major portion of the length thereof and an acid-resistant polypropylene sleeve snugly fitted on the covering extending over the lower leg of the bar. The sleeve serves as the bearing surface for the strip and can be simply removed and replaced.

llnited States Patent David L. Mitchell, .11. Glenwillard, Pa. 790,092

Jan. 9, 1969 Feb. 23, 1971 Tri-S tate Plastics, Inc.,

lnventor Appl. No. Filed Patented A ssignee STRIP-LIFI'ING APPARATUS WITH IMPROVED LIFTING BARS 10 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

U.S. Cl 226/199 Int. Cl B65h 23/26 Field of Search 226/199,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,356,007 8/1944 Sanders 226/191X 2,734,519 2/1956 Widdowson 187/18X 3,272,731 9/1966 Hutchison et al 204/279X Primary ExaminerAllen N. Knowles Att0rney-Buell, Blenko & Ziesenheim ABSTRACT: In an apparatus for lifting sheet steel strip into and out of a pickling tank, improved lifting bars formed in an L-shape and having an acid-resistant polypropylene covering surrounding a major portion of the length thereof and an acidresistant polypropylene sleeve snugly fitted on the covering extending over the lower leg of the bar. The sleeve serves as the bearing surface for the strip and can be simply removed and replaced.

STRW-LNG APPARATUS WITH IMPROVED LIFIING BARS This invention relates to an apparatus for lifting sheet metal strip into and out of a pickling solution, and more particularly to improved lifting bars used in such a lifting apparatus.

Strip lifters are used for lifting sheet metal strip out of pickling solutions when the equipment for transporting the strip through the pickling tank is stopped. The strip is lifted out of the pickling solution to prevent unnecessary erosion of the strip. When the transport equipment is ready to be started again the strip lifter lowers the strip into the pickling solution. The lifting bars of the strip lifter remainin the pickling solution and the strip is usually pulled across the lifting bars. The strip will tend to wear the lifting bars, and after prolonged use the lifting bars will have to bereplaced. In addition, the acidic pickling solutions will corrode the lifting bars, unless an expensive acid-resistant material is used in their construction. I overcome these drawbacks inherent in strip lifters using conventional lifting bars by providing a strip lifter using lifting bars having apickling solution resistant covering surrounding the major portion of the length thereof, and a removable sleeve, also fonned of pickling solution resistant material, fitted over the covering along the strip bearingportion of the lifting bar. Thus, the sleeve will serve as the strip bearing surface and when the sleeve is worn, it can be easily removed from the lifting bar and replaced with a new one. Furthermore, the covering will permit the lifting bar to made from inexpensive material since the covering will serve to protect the lifting bar from corrosion by the pickling solution. More particularly my invention resides in an apparatus for lifting sheet metal strip from a pickling tank, including an elongated main frame being of sufficient length to span the tank and rest on the top surface of the sidewalls thereof, and a lifting mechanism supported by the main frame for actuating lifting bars to raise and lower strip out of and into the pickling solution contained in the tank, wherein the improvement is in the lifting bars, in which each of the lifting bars comprises: a generally L-shaped main body having one leg extending generally parallel to and below thelongitudinal axis of the main frame, and an upright leg lying in a plane inwardly adjacent a longitudinal end of the main frame; pickling solution resistant sleeve means snugly surrounding the main body and having at least the portion thereof on the one leg removable from the main body.

Other details and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the following description of a present preferred embodiment thereof proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings I, have shown a present preferred embodiment of the invention in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a sheet metal strip lifting apparatus supported on the sidewalls of a pickling tank and showing the lifting bars forming the improvement of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of a lifter bar of the apparatus of FIG. 1 showing details of construction; and

FIG. 3 is a view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

Referring now to FIG. 1, generally represents a sheetmetal-strip-lifting apparatus having a main frame 12 which spans the opening of a conventional rubber coated, steel-lined elongated pickling tank l4 and is supported on the top of the sidewalls thereof. The lifting apparatus 10 includes a powderdriven lifting mechanism, generally represented as 16, supported by main frame 12. The lifting mechanism 16 is suitably adapted to raise and lower lifting bars 18 suitably fixed to appropriate parts of the lifting mechanism, into and out of the pickling solution contained by tank 14. The tank 14 and the entire lifting apparatus it), aside from the lifting bars 18, are more or less conventional and well known in the particular art. Accordingly, no detailed description will be made of the tank M or lifting apparatus 10. The remainder of this description will be directed to the lifting bars 13 with the understanding that such lifting bars are useable with any conventional stripiifting apparatus and not limited in their use to the particular lifting apparatus llll shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 2 shows one lifting bar 18, while FIG. I shows a typical arrangement in a lifting apparatus 10 of a pair of identical lifting bars 18 oppositely disposed to and coplanar with each other. One lifting bar 18 will be described with the understanding that such description also relates to the other illustrated lifting bar. Lifting bar 18 includes a main body 20 having a circular cross sectionand fonned from a suitable metal, such as carbon steel, for example. Main body 20 has an L-shape with a first leg 21 lying in a generally horizontal plane and a second leg 22 extending upwardly in a generally vertical plane. The free or upper end portion of the second leg 22 is provided with a threaded reduced section 23 for receiving a nut- 24 thereon and a neck portion 25 for mating with an appropriate sleeve 26' an or the like forming part of lifting mechanism 16 of the, lifting apparatus 10. The lifting bar 18 will be secured to the lifting mechanism 16 by tightening nut 24 against the sleeve, 26. A generally cylindrically shaped cover member 30 surrounds a major part of the main body 20 and extends from adjacent the neck portion 25 to outwardly of the free end of the. firstlegZl of main body 20. The cover member 30 is formed from an acid-resistant, resilient plastic material such as polypropylene, for example, and is placed on the'main body 20 of the lifting bar before the bar is bent into its L-shape. v

A generally cylindrically shaped sleeve 36 formed from a acid-resistant, resilient plastic material such as polypropylene for example, is snugly fitted around the cover member 30 extending over the first leg2l of the main body 20. For sake of clarity of the remainder of this description, any element comprising the lifter bar 18 and formed from an acid-resistant, resilient, plastic material, will be referred to as being formed from polypropylene, with the understanding that such element may be formed from any material having the properties referred to. The sleeve 36 extends from outwardly adjacent the free end of the cover member 30 to a ring 38 of polypropylene material suitably secured to the cover member 30 where it begins its upward bend. A gusset plate 40 formed from polypropylene material is suitably secured, as by welding, to the cover member 30in the bend thereof, and is in abutment with an upper portion of the ring 38. The ring 38 acts as a stop for sleeve 36 while the gusset plate 40 serves to reinforce and strengthen the ring 38. A key 42, shown in section in FIG. 3, formed of polypropylene material, is suitably fixed on the underside of cover member 30 along the entire length thereof extending over first leg 21 of main body 20. The key 42 is shaped in the form of a sector of a cylinder and has the same radius as sleeve 36. As also shown in FIG. 3, sleeve 36 has a sector thereof removed, which sector has an are identical to that of key 42. Thus, sleeve 36 will fit on cover member 30 by guiding it alongkey 62 and when sleeve 36 is in place it and key 42 will form a complete cylinder. Key 42 will, therefore, serve to prevent sleeve '36 from rotating about cover member 30.

A hollow seal cap 50 formed of polypropylene material is snugly fitted around the second leg 22 of main body 20 of the lifting bar 18. The seal cap 50 overlaps the upper end of cover member 30 and is suitably fixed thereto, as by welding. An 0- ring 52 is received in a suitable slot formed in the interior of seal cap 50 and snugly surrounds a portion of the second leg 22. Acid proof calking material 54is set in seal cap 50 prior to welding it to the cover member 30. The seal cap 50 thus serves as a seal against any of the corrosive pick-ling acid or fumes from the acid entering between the cover member 30 and the main body 20 at the upper end region of the cover member. In addition, the seal cap 50 will move with the cover member 30 during expansion and contraction thereof and at the same time maintain its seal.

A disc 60 formed of polypropylene material is suitably fixed, as by welding, in the lower end of the cover member 30. A plate 62 formed of polypropylene material is suitably secured to the disc 60, as by polypropylene screw 64, and is in abutment with the inner end of sleeve 36. Thus, plate 62 serves to hold sleeve 36 against shifting longitudinally leftwardly of cover member 30, as viewed in FIG. 2. Plate 62 and disc 60, in addition, serve as a seal against pickling acid or fumes from the acid entering between cover member 30 and the first leg 21 or main body 20. Also, the plate 62 and disc 60 are arranged to move with the cover member 30 during contraction and expansion thereof while at the same time maintain the seal.

Sleeve 36 can be easily replaced by removing the plate 62 from disc 66 and sliding the sleeve 36 off of cover member 30. A new sleeve 36 can be installed by a reverse procedure. By using sleeve 36 and cover member 30, as described, the lifting bar 18 can be formed from carbon steel which is stronger and less expensive than the material commonly used for lifter bars, such as monel, for example.

While I have shown and described a present preferred embodiment of the present invention it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodied within the scope of the following claims.

lclaim:

1. In an apparatus for lifting sheet metal strips from a pickling tank, including an elongated main frame being of sufficient length to span the tank and rest on the top surface of the sidewalls thereof, and a lifting mechanism supported by the main frame for actuating lifting bars to raise and lower strip out of and into the pickling solution contained in the tank, wherein the improvement is in the lifting bars, in which each of the lifting bars comprises:

a generally L-shaped main body, one leg of which extends generally parallel to and below the longitudinal axis of said main frame, said one leg having a free inner end lying in a generally vertical plane passing though an intermediate portion of said main frame and an outer end lying in a generally vertical plane passing inwardly adjacent one longitudinal end of said main frame; the other leg of said main body being fixed at one end thereof to said outer end of said one leg, and having means at the other end thereof for removably fixing the main body to said lifting mechanism;

a nonmetallic, pickling-solution resistant cover member snugly surrounding said main body, and having one end disposed inwardly adjacent said other end of said other leg and a closed other end disposed beyond and adjacent to said inner end of said leg; and

nonmetallic, pickling-solution-resistant sleeve means removably fixed to and surrounding said cover member at the portion thereof extending over said inner end of said one leg.

2. The improvement as set forth in claim 1 wherein said sleeve means includes a key portion fixed to said cover member, and a strip-metal-bearing section which fits with said key portion to form a continuous surface surrounding said cover member at said portion thereof.

3. The improvement as set forth in claim 1 including stop means fixed to said cover member at the region thereof adjacent said outer end of said one leg of said main body for fixing the position of the outer end of said sleeve means with respect to said outer end of said one leg.

4. The improvement as set forth in claim 1 including nonmetallic, pick]ing-solution-resistant cap member removably fixed to the said closed other end of said cover member and engaging the inner end of said sleeve means.

5. The improvement as set forth in claim 1 including a hollow housing snugly received on said main body adjacent said one end of said cover member; said housing having a portion thereof snugly surrounding a section of said cover member adjacent said one end thereof; and pickling-solution-resistant seal ring means disposed around said main body and is sealing abutment with said hollow housing.

6. In an apparatus for lifting sheet metal strip from a pickling tank, including an elongated main frame being of sufficient length to span the tank and rest on the top surface of the sidewalls thereof, and a lifting mechanism supported by the main frame for actuating lifting bars to raise and lower strip out of and into the pickling solution contained in the tank, wherein the improvement is in the lifting bars, in which each of the lifting bars comprises:

a generally L-shaped main body having one leg extending generally parallel to and below the longitudinal axis of said main frame, and an upright leg lying a in a plane inwardly adjacent a longitudinal end of said main frame; and

pickling-solution-resistant cover means snugly surrounding said main body and a removable load-bearing means of pickling-solution-resistant material on said cover means on said one leg removable from said main body.

7. The improvement as set forth in claim 6 wherein said load bearing mans is made of nonmetallic material.

8. The improvement as set forth in claim 7 wherein said cover means includes a cover member extending from the free end of said one leg to inwardly adjacent the free end of said upright leg; and a strip bearing member slidably received on said cover member at the portion thereof extending over said one leg.

9. The improvement as set forth in claim 7 including seal means formed from a nonmetallic pickling-solution-resistant material and disposed at each end of said cover means for sealing said main body from contact with any pickling solution.

10. The improvement as set forth in claim 6 including locking means supported by said main body for holding said portion of said cover means fixed with respect to said main body. 

1. In an apparatus for lifting sheet metal strips from a pickling tank, including an elongated main frame being of sufficient length to span the tank and rest on the top surface of the sidewalls thereof, and a lifting mechanism supported by the main frame for actuating lifting bars to raise and lower strip out of and into the pickling solution contained in the tank, wherein the improvement is in the lifting bars, in which each of the lifting bars comprises: a generally L-shaped main body, one leg of which extends generally parallel to and below the longitudinal axis of said main frame, said one leg having a free inner end lying in a generally vertical plane passing though an intermediate portion of said main frame and an outer end lying in a generally vertical plane passing inwardly adjacent one longitudinal end of said main frame; the other leg of said main body being fixed at one end thereof to said outer end of said one leg, and having means at the other end thereof for removably fixing the main body to said lifting mechanism; a nonmetallic, pickling-solution-resistant cover member snugly surrounding said main body, and having one end disposed inwardly adjacent said other end of said other leg and a closed other end disposed beyond and adjacent to said inner end of said leg; and nonmetallic, pickling-solution-resistant sleeve means removably fixed to and surrounding said cover memBer at the portion thereof extending over said inner end of said one leg.
 2. The improvement as set forth in claim 1 wherein said sleeve means includes a key portion fixed to said cover member, and a strip-metal-bearing section which fits with said key portion to form a continuous surface surrounding said cover member at said portion thereof.
 3. The improvement as set forth in claim 1 including stop means fixed to said cover member at the region thereof adjacent said outer end of said one leg of said main body for fixing the position of the outer end of said sleeve means with respect to said outer end of said one leg.
 4. The improvement as set forth in claim 1 including nonmetallic, pickling-solution-resistant cap member removably fixed to the said closed other end of said cover member and engaging the inner end of said sleeve means.
 5. The improvement as set forth in claim 1 including a hollow housing snugly received on said main body adjacent said one end of said cover member; said housing having a portion thereof snugly surrounding a section of said cover member adjacent said one end thereof; and pickling-solution-resistant seal ring means disposed around said main body and is sealing abutment with said hollow housing.
 6. In an apparatus for lifting sheet metal strip from a pickling tank, including an elongated main frame being of sufficient length to span the tank and rest on the top surface of the sidewalls thereof, and a lifting mechanism supported by the main frame for actuating lifting bars to raise and lower strip out of and into the pickling solution contained in the tank, wherein the improvement is in the lifting bars, in which each of the lifting bars comprises: a generally L-shaped main body having one leg extending generally parallel to and below the longitudinal axis of said main frame, and an upright leg lying a in a plane inwardly adjacent a longitudinal end of said main frame; and pickling-solution-resistant cover means snugly surrounding said main body and a removable load-bearing means of pickling-solution-resistant material on said cover means on said one leg removable from said main body.
 7. The improvement as set forth in claim 6 wherein said load bearing mans is made of nonmetallic material.
 8. The improvement as set forth in claim 7 wherein said cover means includes a cover member extending from the free end of said one leg to inwardly adjacent the free end of said upright leg; and a strip bearing member slidably received on said cover member at the portion thereof extending over said one leg.
 9. The improvement as set forth in claim 7 including seal means formed from a nonmetallic pickling-solution-resistant material and disposed at each end of said cover means for sealing said main body from contact with any pickling solution.
 10. The improvement as set forth in claim 6 including locking means supported by said main body for holding said portion of said cover means fixed with respect to said main body. 